Traveler loses Taiwanese nationality after Russia trip through travel agency

Traveler loses Taiwanese nationality after Russia trip through travel agency

2026-01-13

A Taiwanese traveler recently got her Taiwanese nationality revoked because of a trip to Russia. The woman had booked the trip through a travel agency, which claimed to be able to handle all the paperwork and visa for Russia. It turns out the agency applied for a one-use Chinese passport on her behalf. As a result, her national status and registration were canceled upon her return to Taiwan. Let’s hear more.

Chiu Chui-cheng
Mainland Affairs Council
To restore her status, she can submit documents showing the relevant facts to the National Immigration Agency. She can also report the travel agency to the Tourism Administration, because travel agencies are not allowed to apply for passports or travel documents issued by mainland China on behalf of clients.

Voice of Lin Chin-yuan
National Immigration Agency
You should try to make sure about Taiwan’s laws and stay alert during your travels. Do not believe solicitation tactics by travel agencies promising convenience and savings.

But applying for a restoration could be quite troublesome. Applicants must have made major and special contributions to Taiwan’s national defense, international image or social stability, or they must have acted in a way beneficial to Taiwan’s interests. Restorations are also granted based on humanitarian considerations. Since this case involves changing the person’s status from a Chinese national to a Taiwanese national, a cross-ministerial review involving the National Security Bureau and the Mainland Affairs Council will also be necessary.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#travel #visa #china #russia #taiwan

赴俄旅遊辦理"1次性中國護照" 民眾返台遭註銷身分戶籍

2026-01-13

出國旅遊回台，卻被註銷身分！有Podcaster分享，有民眾去俄羅斯旅遊，因為誤信旅行社代辦簽證，才能通關，結果，最後被辦了”一次性中國邊境旅遊護照”，回台後，因為被移民署認定，這已經違反兩岸條例，台灣的身分戶籍，因此遭到註銷。

[[陸委會主委邱垂正]]
“如果要恢復他的身分，應該檢具事實，向主管機關移民署，依照這個回復身份的相關的辦法，來申請回復，他也可以向我們的觀光主管機關，觀光署去檢舉，這些旅行社，因為我們的旅行社，是不能代辦中國大陸的相關的這個護照證件”

[[聲源:移民署移民事務組科長林勤淵]]
“務必了解我國相關法令，在旅遊過程中保持警覺，切勿因貪圖方便省錢，而聽信旅行社招攬手法”

根據現行規定，申請回復國民身分，必須符合「對台灣地區國防安全、國際形象或社會安定有重大特殊貢獻」、「有助於台灣地區整體利益」、「基於人道考量」等條件。移民署指出，這件事是從”中國人”變成”台灣人”，需要跟陸委會、國安局等相關單位進行跨部會審核，才能決定核准與否。

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民視台灣台（152頻道）週一至週五晚上9:30
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The 34th Taipei International Book Exhibition will soon take place at the Taipei World Trade Center from Feb. 3 till Feb. 8.This year’s Guest of Honor country is Thailand. FTV reporter Stephany Yang takes us in for a preview!

The 2026 Taipei International Book Exhibition will open this February, with Thailand as the Guest of Honor. The Thai Pavilion, themed “CreaTHAIvity,” will highlight the richness of Thailand’s cultural heritage, creativity, and diverse storytelling traditions. Eleven acclaimed Thai writers and illustrators will join the exhibition, offering readers an opportunity to directly engage with the writers.

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“CreaTHAIvity" in this context means the embedded Thai living style into imagination. The highlights of the pavilion we will include elements that come from Thai culture, like we use the collectors. Two collectors from Ramaiken, which is the Thailand’s national epics, written by King Rama I of Thailand.

In addition, the Thailand Pavilion will feature more than 30 activities and performances, ranging from introductions to Thai cuisine and Muay Thai demonstrations to interactive sessions and lessons on Thai language and culture.

Rex How
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Thailand—through its advertising, films, music, diverse commercial ambitions, and as a regional hub in Southeast Asia—has been selected as the theme country. This year, their large-scale participation offers Taiwanese audiences and readers the chance to slowly gain a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of Thailand.

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It is really an honor of Thailand to be part of Taipei International Book Exhibition 2026 as a Guest of Honor. We bring 37 book publishers to join us, so we have many cultural events as well. It isn’t only looking books in our pavilion, but also culture that visitors can enjoy.

This year’s theme is “Reading is Amazing.” Several other countries, including France, Belgium, Czechia, and India, will also exhibit at the event. The fair will host activities including book-signing events, lectures, performances, and DIY workshops.

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The first one that I think is very interesting. Her name is Magali Le Huche. She is a very famous book illustrator for children. One of her most famous books in France is called Paco. This one. It is a book for children with music in it. You can listen to the music and also of course, read the story. Actually, it is one of the most favourite books of my son. So, it is very famous in France. I will be very glad to have her in Taiwan. She will of course, present her latest books and will also organize a live drawing exercise for the public with some music from the Beatles.

The Taipei International Book Exhibition will be held at the Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1 from Feb. 3 until Feb. 8.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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Lantern Festival returns to Chiayi, incorporates Alishan in design

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The Taiwan Lantern Festival is returning to Chiayi this year for its 37th edition. Differing from previous years, this year’s main lantern is not centered around the Chinese zodiac.

At 21 meters tall, the main lantern is modeled after a towering tree, with the upper section featuring a circular ring that symbolizes the sun rising amid mountain peaks.

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For the last part, we will use the lantern’s light to showcase Taiwan’s technology. The light will transform the main lantern into another shape, and through this white light, we will offer a prayer for this land, a prayer for Taiwan.

The visual display takes the audience on a journey through Taiwan’s oceanic origins and development of life to the formation of civilization. This year’s festival, running from March 3 to 15, will also feature two secondary lanterns and 23 exhibition zones.

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This time we coordinated with the Taiwan Railway and high-speed rail and will provide more than 20,000 parking spaces on site. Because it is only 13 days and the festival is so spectacular, we expect there will be lots of people, so we will do our best to make transportation smooth.

The handheld lanterns this year are irresistibly adorable, combining this year’s zodiac animal with Taiwan’s tourism mascot OhBear, showing the black bear playfully rocking on a wooden horse.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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7-Eleven ibon kiosks to offer tourism information nationwide

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The Tourism Administration’s adorable mascot Oh Bear is on the same stage as 7-Eleven’s superstar mascot Open Chan in a rarely-seen coupling. The goal is to promote tourism in Taiwan.

As foreign tourists in Taiwan inevitably visit convenience stores, the Tourism Administration has signed an MOU with 7-Eleven to cooperate over tourism.

Chen Yu-hsiu
Tourism Administration Director General
We hoped there was an opportunity to cooperate with convenience stores so that people could obtain information. We are now emphasizing the simultaneous promotion of quality and quantity. We hope to provide our international travelers at the very least with complete information that they need.

Over 7,200 stores across Taiwan will be upgraded to “traveler convenience stores.” In the future, travelers will be simply able to scan a QR code at the ibon kiosks to obtain the most up-to-date and accurate travel information. Simultaneously an “Oh Bear AI Assistant” will be launched, providing comprehensive information on regional cuisines, tourist attractions and festivals.

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Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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The famous “Crane King” chairman of Chi Deh Crane Engineering Co, Hu Han-yen, recently posted a video to Facebook showing off his luxurious apartment in Taipei’s Ximending.

From its crystal chandeliers and golden chairs, to the gilded ceiling and walls, the space radiates opulence with its high-end furnishings. But the highlight? Natural light from three sides, with a 270-degree panoramic view of the city from the garden.

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The Grand Hotel, Chinese Culture University, planes taking off from Songshan airport. Look, it’s beautiful. I’ve owned this place for over 10 years and I’ve still never spent a night in the master bedroom.

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I was right to invest in this property at the time. I bought it for NT$500,000 per ping. Now it’s worth more than NT$1 million.

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The average market price hovers around NT$800,000 per ping. We’ve even seen some transactions going for over NT$900,000. So there’s definitely room for appreciation for early investors at this stage. In the northern Wanhua area around Ximending, there are even presales going for over NT$1.4 million per ping.

With Taipei real-estate prices soaring as they are, people are impressed by the Crane King’s timely investment.

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